Question of the Week

Back from it’s holiday hiatus, the question of the week asks you to reminisce about your first car.

What you loved about it or hated about it. Did you scrape by and save up for it yourself or were your parents able to help you to get it and how many speeding tickets you got.

Here’s what our crew had to say:

Cody Sandusky

Host of the Home Stretch
Notre Dame Basketball Play-by-Play Analyst

Ah, my first car. Upon receiving my license at the beginning of my sophomore year but before I had my own car, I drove my mother’s 1999 Chevy Blazer. I was admittedly spoiled: leather seats with warmers and adjustable lumbar, CD/tape player, room to pile a number of people in the back (only five legally, but who hasn’t put friends in the trunk area of their SUV in high school… sorry, Mom), and it allowed me some level of autonomy and freedom.

That freedom was amplified (and the level of comfort lowered a bit) when I received my first car in October of that year – A 1995 Mazda Protege.

The car was a gift from my parents and it was greatly appreciated. The dark green four-door sedan became the sole evening/weekend transportation for many of my friends, as I was the first to have a car (and a license, as I recall) and a steady income. The Protege was a solid vehicle in terms of construction, no body damage or failing interior. The light gray cloth seats were intact, the windows rolled down, and the heater was great… unfortunately, the in-dash CD player had its face plate stolen before we bought it, so the radio wasn’t functional, and the car did not have working air conditioning. Thanks to my older brother, the in-dash radio problem was rectified soon after I started driving the car, so the essentials were in place.

I was never given a speeding ticket in the car, but I did total the vehicle during the winter of 2008. Driving down a side-street hill in Jackson, I locked my brakes trying to slow down and avoid sliding down the icy road at too great a speed. Unfortunately, that caused the steering to lock up and I rear-ended a car parked at the bottom of the hill. My two friend and I were alright, but the front end of the car was destroyed; the hood folded up like an accordion, the radiator had a huge puncture, and the bumper was beyond repair. No airbags deployed, though, so maybe the car wasn’t as secure as I believed at the time… we were only going 30 miles per hour, so that may have played a part. Alas, I had to say goodbye to my first car.

The Protege served me well and I can thankfully say that my first car was a good one rife with fun memories.

Rusty Hendricks

Sikeston Sports Broadcast Announcer

My first vehicle was a 90’s Red Dodge Dakota pickup. I was lucky enough to buy it from my Aunt when I turned 16. Of course since it was my first, I had a close bond with it. Not going to lie, it was tough to let her go. One thing I didnt like about it was the heater and air conditioning. The heater worked great in the summer and the air conditioner worked well in the winter. But not the other way around. So I spent many hot summer days with the windows rolled down (and I mean rolled). Plus, winter days bundled up to stay warm. I am so thankful I have a vehicle now with a heater that works well.

Karley McDaniel

Promotions Director

2008 Pontiac Grand Prix; white with heavily tinted windows, black interior with red detail. The engine purred when it started, it accelerated smooth as silk and high speeds felt a little too comfortable.

The car was given to me by my parents for my 16th birthday. Three months later I got my first speeding ticket. 75 in a 55…hence the line about smooth acceleration. I’m not that spoiled though, my first job at Dairy Queen immediately followed that speeding ticket. Good thing I loved my car, because I was driving it to work five days a week to pay back my debts.

Stephen K

Digital Manager & Webmaster

She was a 1989 white Mustang coupe. Loved that car dearly as it was the one place that was mine and only mine! My aunt helped me secure the loan wile I was working for her and my uncle at Estes Deli & BBQ in Jackson when I was 17.

There were minor things about my car that I would have liked to be different. I would have loved to have had a GT hatchback, but it was mine and I loved it. I roamed many a road listening to my cassettes or CD via the personal CD player and cassette adapter. Tom Petty, The Beatles, Pearl Jam, Pink Floyd, Nirvana, Green Day, Hendrix, and so many others. So many great memories in that car with my friends.

Hope you enjoyed this weeks post. Join in on the fun and let us know your answer in the comments below!

With Christmas upon us, this week we asked our personalities to tell us about their favorite holiday eats and treats.

Here’s what our crew had to say. Let us know what your favorites are in the comments down below.

Cody Sandusky

Host of the Home Stretch
Notre Dame Basketball Play-by-Play Analyst

I feel that, in order to provide a proper response to this question, I have to provide an answer for “favorite holiday food” and “favorite holiday treat” specifically.

My maternal grandmother’s recipe for cornbread dressing still produces my favorite food, side dish or entrée, of the entire holiday season. My mom continues to make it only for Thanksgiving and Christmas, which is probably good because I would gain more weight than I already have were it available year-round! I’m hoping to receive the recipe someday, but it is again for the best that I do not have access to such information right now. It is a smell that immediately brings back memories of years gone by with family and sparks my infamous hovering around the kitchen, trying to sneak a bite of whatever I can stealthily consume.

My favorite holiday treat is also a classical holiday dessert: Pumpkin pie. Despite the “put pumpkin in every food imaginable” phase occurring in society right now, I rely upon a faithful friend in the world of desserts, coupled with a dollop of whipped cream and either a cup of coffee or egg nog. Much like the aforementioned dressing, pumpkin pie is a classic that continually takes me back to holidays past and is a dish that I can find easily almost anywhere… as much as I desire to learn that dressing recipe, I am not keen on trying to bake my own pumpkin pie. I don’t want to ruin such a thing of beauty with my lack of experience making pies.

Rusty Hendricks

Sikeston Sports Broadcast Announcer

The food is a big reason why the Holidays are special to me! I have heard that most Americans gain around 5 pounds between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I think I have already met my quota! I am a sucker for sweets, especially home made pies. Pecan Pie and Coconut Creme Pie are two of my favorites. But a tradition in my family is having ham for every Christmas. Ham with a sweet honey glaze. It started because our neighbor always gives us a ham for Christmas. Thanks to him, eating ham on Christmas is our tradition. What makes it special are the memories with family, year after year.

Stephen K

Digital Manager & Webmaster

I’m all about a big pile of ham and turkey during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter as it’s pretty much the only time my family serves it. Serve it up with some cream style corn, baked beans, green beans, peas, mashed potatoes, and you better be ready to ward off any other foxes at the dinner table from getting your deviled eggs.

I’m a bit of an oddball in my family in that I always have a big glass of milk with my meal that also goes well with dessert which I always conned my grandmother into making me some warm pumpkin pie, and on rare occasions without crust. It’s just so much better with just a spoon!

Now it’s your turn.

Leave a comment below and tell us your favorite foods are for the holidays!

Also, if you have a question for your favorite DJ, leave a comment and it maybe the next question of the week!

See what they had to say, then let give us your response in the comments below!

Cody Sandusky

Host of the Home Stretch

My favorite part of winter’s arrival is the cold weather and the spirit that it can bring. Yes, Southeast Missouri has received more than its fair share of icy precipitation in the last few years, but even the hope of snow gets me excited. Snow is one of the few things in life that captivates everyone that sees it – any time snow begins to fall, everyone located in the area gravitates to the windows or doors, in awe of the beautiful act of nature.

Furthermore, cold weather means the arrival of playoff football, basketball and hockey seasons. What more can you ask for this time of year?

Stephen K

Digital Manager & Webmaster

My favorite parts of winter would be the cozy nights at home wrapped up in a blanket watching movies, as well as the rare scenery of a fresh snowfall. I love to get out and take photos during or soon after we get a snowfall.

For anyone that know me, Blues hockey is of course a big highlight of my winter, and as soon as we get past the winter solstice on December 21st, I start to look forward to each and every day the sun stays up longer.

Now it’s your turn.

Tell us your favorite parts of winter or give us an idea for next weeks question.